The reality is that even "on good authority" sources are lying to themselves to a certain extent...as in what gets green lighted is done so strictly behind closed doors and is done so strictly for money...and that's not "leaking" onto disboards or anybody who hangs out here.

Which means that even the imagineers themselves are in a dream land half the time and seem to still not be able to rectify what they do with why they do it - it's not "art"...it's business infrastructure development.

Joe Rhode is the prime example...shooting himself in the foot longterm by going on "artistic" tangents that have lowered future funding opportunities with cost overruns.

So back to the "monsters inc coaster" that was a "go" at least 28 different times over the last six years...or the "fasttracked" cars expansion to Studios...be careful in who you believe...
As in believe no one...only trust the shovels.

And Disney has never quite forgave the "puny" general public for not showing the decency to show up in large enough numbers to keep those 6200 rooms at POP filled to 100.3% capacity.

I was there when they were building the complex...and the attitude by the mid level (which meant they were being told by the upper mid level) management was one of almost disdain when it became clear that the whole thing was gonna be shelved.

But it wasn't just for the travel downturn at the time...it was kinda a revulsion to the idea that people would just skip all stars to go to the 15 year newer pop if they had completed and opened according to plan (which is a big reason why the brakes were thrown on...and also was part of the thought process that lead to all star family suites, the ddp, and of course free dining)

How DARE you not come if we build it?

I'm not even exaggerating (well...not so much)

Remember that it was the first Disney Hotel project to be put on hold due to lack of demand (already approved/ under construction) in the US...I can't stress what a black eye that was for them.

To have bulldozers moving and then have to eat crow was devastating to the Weiss regime in Orlando...who had basically followed the "people are stupid - they'll show up" in pretty much all things and had gotten away with it.

It's no coincidence that only DVC rooms have been constructed since...guaranteed to be 80% filled at all times...

We will never see another rack rate room ever constructed at a deluxe WDW spot again...nor likely a "moderate" either.

We might get AoA types...which are ambiguous lower end rooms priced at astronomical rates...
They'd sign for that in a second.

They announced it, did some site prep for it, installed basic infrastructure for it...and it's now going to be 4 Seasons/Golden Oaks.

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But they did build it...its called "Saratoga"

The eagle pines idea was caught somewhere in IP no mans land...

it was out of the way of the parks...suffered from being caught between downtown and the ft wilderness/ wilderness lodge area...and was proposed as a a throwback floridian style from the turn of the century...ironically they already have a place like that and villas under construction currently.

It was just cheaper to take DI offline and throw up Saratoga...that combined with the tree house developement basically did all they were going to gain from the eagle pines idea...and they can funnel into downtown...and four seasons can generate business that they don't have to pay a cent for...

and of course Golden Oak...

so while i hear ya...this is not quite an apples to apples comparison either.

They announced it, did some site prep for it, installed basic infrastructure for it...and it's now going to be 4 Seasons/Golden Oaks.

Click to expand...

Or what about the Mediterranean resort they were going to build in the 80's between the contemporary and ttc. They did site work,said 'this land isn't suitable for a hotel' and ditched the location for the awkward square piece juttting into 7 seas lagoon

Or what about the Mediterranean resort they were going to build in the 80's between the contemporary and ttc. They did site work,said 'this land isn't suitable for a hotel' and ditched the location for the awkward square piece juttting into 7 seas lagoon

Click to expand...

This still isn't about POP is it?

Because "announced, but never started" locations is way different. That isn't that uncommon...

They had heavy loaders pushing around 80 acres of dirt and built 20 concrete shells that they finished to varying degrees between 20% and 75%...and then shelved them for 3+ years...

Way different.

But we're off topic...so I'll save more of my resort musing for another day.

it was out of the way of the parks...suffered from behind caught between downtown and the ft wilderness/ wilderness lodge area...and was proposed as a a throwback floridian style from the turn of the century...ironically they already have a place like that and villas under construction currently.

It was just cheaper to take DI offline and throw up Saratoga...that combined with the tree house developement basically did all they were going to gain from the eagle pines idea...and they can funnel into downtown...and four seasons can generate business that they don't have to pay a cent for...

and of course Golden Oak...

so while i hear ya...this is not quite an apples to apples comparison either.

Click to expand...

They did build A DVC location (and a couple others, afterwards)..but not at the same spot Eagle Pines was supposed to go. And the 'dozers had moved on the Eagle Pines site, too. At least for prelim work.

And I certainly understand all the reasoning behind the "whys" of it not getting built.

It doesn't change the fact they started it, to some extent, and then abandoned it AFTER the shovels had decended.. So it's "apples to apples" in the sense that, once again, even the shovels sometimes lie.

THAT was my only point...that it was at least as fitting (and perhaps more contemporary..if you'll excuse the obvious pun) than the Ventian/Persian/Asian on Bay Lake.

I'm not sure, exactly, what you were otherwise inferring my point to be.

"site prep" is very deceiving in florida...as the wetlands characteristics require alot of water management/ survey that is almost always falsely reported as prep for a new park, hotel, or magical golden palace where everyone eats all the gumdrops they want for free.